Combination-lock for electric lamps and the like.



G. I. SILBERT. COMBINATION LOCK FOR ELEOTRIG LAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1910.

Patented Dec, 5, 1 911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

(gem/5 D317 7;

G. I. SILBERT.

COMBINATION LOOK FOR ELECTRIC L'AMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1910.

Patented Decf5, 19:11.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V G. I. SILBERT. COMBINATION LOCK FOR ELEGTRIG LAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY l8 19 10.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETBSHEET 3.

{HM M @FM n T/ 12 1 7 Q a a UNITED'STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF I. SILBElitT, (IF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY 'ltIE'SJll'lll ASSIGNMENTS, TO.

CHI-ILL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

This invention relates toh novel combination or permutation lock for incandescent electric lamps, andfor other like separable electric connections, so arranged'as to lock the-lamp or other connection in'place in such "fimanner that it can be removed from its socket-or support only by a person who has knowledge of'the prearranged combination by which the lockingelements' are, trans rienoed and considerable loss sustained by" posed to releaseithe lock.

. The object of theinvention is to provide a simple,. inexpensive and compact locking deviceof-this character for" electric lamps and other like uses, and also to provide a combination lock which may be readily applied to standard lamp and socket construction, and which also may be adapted to lamps and sockets already in use.

Considerable annoyance has been expereason of the pilfering of incandescent electric lamps, and this practice has greatly in-.

' creased and become more profitable to persons followihg the same upon the advent of remove the lamp the more expensive tungsten lamps. In 01- der to avoid this annoyance key-operated locks have been proposed, but such key locks are objectionable because of the necessity of" having a key at hand to remove the lamp,

and also because such keys may be duplicated by maliciously inclined personsjw sh ing to appropriate the lamps,-thuslargely nullifying the safety feature of 'the lock; i

I propose to provide a combination or permutation lock which can be released to only by a person who look, and the lock is so arranged' th at" the combination" may be varied? at there- Specification of Letters Patent. I Application filed July 18,

COMFINATION-LOCK FOR" ELECTRIC LAMPS AND THE LIKE.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911. 1910. Serial No. 572,482.

by rendering it impossible for an u'nau thorized person to remove the lamp from its socket or support.

The lock which I have devised may be applied as a permanent part of the lamp base a lamp mounting, showing a socket and base to which my lock may be applied. Fig.

2 is an enlarged viewv showing the inter locked socket and the lamp base partially/tin section and partially in elevation; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of the metal socket cup on line 3-3 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of said cup. Fig. 5 is an axial section of the cup. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the lamp base and the lock tumblers carried thereby. Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 9 is an axial section of an interlocked base and socket, showingthe permutation elements in position for release. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line 1 0.10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the tumblers. Fig. 12 is an edge view of said tumbler; Fig. 13 is a view partiallyinjelevation and partially in section,

illustrating the manner of applying the "locking device to a standard screw-threaded lampbase'. Fig. 14-is asection 'on line l4. =14 of-Fig 13. Fig. 15- is a perspective view of the-locking ringfor locking the adapter sleeve shown-1n Fig. 13 to, the screwrthreaded' lamp base." Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of another" form of socket. Fig. 17 is a sec- .tion-on-1ine'1717 of Fig-16. Fig. l8 is a .partial section and partial elevation of anfada'pt er foradapting the locking devicd to a sta-nd a -id socket and standard lamp base.- Fig. 19 is a section on line 19-19 of Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the spring for locking the adapter in a standard socket.

First referring to the construction shown nmp' socket and 2 anincandesomt a the base of which enters the socket. The porcelain or other insulatingbody '28 of the socket is confined between the usual twopart, interlocked casing or shell in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The said body 28 is recessed at its lower side to receive a metal socket cup or ring 30 which carries certain of the' 'elements of the combination lock. Said cup is fixed to the body 28 by screws 31,

g 31 which extend downwardly through openings in the body and engage screw-threaded openings in theflange 32 of the cup 30. The a lcylindric wall of saidcup is provided on its :inn ei surface, at three-angularly separated 15 points, with spaced shoulders 34, 35 fortning between the samespaces 36. The said shoulders areshown as formed by pressing or shearing the cylindric wall of the cup inwardly to provide transversely convex, an- 2Q gularly spaced lugs 37, 38 on the inner face of the said wall.

The metal sleeve 40, which surrounds and constitutes part of the base of the lamp, is

formed-at its inner end with a concentric 35 the socket cup. Between an annular shoulder, -intermediate the ends of said sleeve 43, and a spacing ring 46 surrounding the tumbler sleeve is located a tumbler 48 which is free to turn'about the sleeve. 50

40 designates a second tumbler that is fixed to the end'of the tubular extension or neck 42 of the base shell in any suitable manner, as, for instance by spinning or forming the end of said extension over the tumbler, as shown 45 in Figs. 2' and 9, and interlocking it with the tumbler, so that .said inner tumbler turns with the base extension or neck. Said tumbler bears against the spacing sleeve 46. The said tumbler 48 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced notches 51 v adapted to pass over the convex lugs 38, and the innermost tumbler 50 is likewise provided with angular-1y spaced notches 52 adapted to pass-over the lugs 37, 38. When the tumblers 50 and 48 are in place in the socket cup and are rotated -to bring their notches out of line with the lugs 37, 38, the unnotched;..,-pbrtions of the tumblers lie behind the-locking shoulders 34, 35-, respec-' tively, of the socket cup, said tumbler48 o'ccupying the spaces 36. The said tumblers 5 0 and 48' are provided with interacting lugs or projections adapted,"when the lamp and its fixed tumbler 50 are rotated, to control the rotation ofithe tumbler 48 in a manner the shoulders 3 1 of the socket cup. said tumbler 50 has been rotated a given angular distance, the engagement of the lug 55 familiar in combination. or permutation locks, whereby the notches-of the tumblers are, by a predetermined manipulation of the lamp, brought into and out of line with the locking shoulders on the socket cup; As herein shown, the outermost tumbler 50 is provided'withan integral lug 55 bent down from the body of the tumbler as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. When so made the'tumbler 50 may be locked to the neck or extension by pressing the extension at one point, 56 (Figs. 8 and 10) outwardly into the notch 57 formed by punching the metal away to produce the lug 55. The coiiperating lug 58 of the next adjacent tumbler i8 is formed by one end of a curved spring wire 59'which lies beneath the tumbler 48 and surrounds the tumbler sleeve, said end 58 of the wire extending through an opening 60 in the tumbler, as shown best in Fig. 11. There are provided a plurality of angularly spaced openingsBO in. order that the projection 58 may be angularly' adjusted with respect to the tumbler &8; such adjustment being offected by removing the projection from an opening 60,*partially rotating the wire about the axis of the tumbler and inserting the projectioninto another opening 60.

When the lamp base is to be inserted into the socket and is to be locked therein, the tumbler sleeve 43 and tumbler 48 are rotated to bring their proper notches into register with the notches 52 of the. fixed tumbler 50, so that the notched portions of the tumblers and sleeve will pass over the lugs 37, 38 of the socket cup. The engage- I ment of the lugs 38 with the notches 4C5 of the tumbler sleeve e3 holds said tumbler sleeve from rotation. The tumbler 50 is rotated, by rotating the lamp, to bring the unnotched portion of said tumbler 50 behfind A ter thereof with the lug 58 of the tumbler acts to I10 rotate the unnotched portion of the latter tumbler behind the shoulders 35 of the socket cup. The lamp is now locked in the socket and can only betreleased by an angular transposition of the tumblers 1n the con- 'certed order for which the tumblers have ders in the socket cup recommends itself by 130.

reason of the" simplicity of [the operations required to produce the same. The said cup mayhowever be made like that shown in Figs. 16 and 17, wherein thecup 61 is made of thinner metal than the cup 30, and the locking shoulders 62,1 63 thereofare formed on rings 64, 65 that are set into the cup and are held in place therein between shouldered portions of the cylindric wall of the cup and a spacing ring 66. In this construction there is provided at the outer open side of the cup a ring 67, which may be fixed to the cup by spinning orforming the edge thereof over the ring, and said ring is pro vided with an inwardly directed lug 68 which isadapted for engagement with one of the notches 45 of the tumbler sleeve 43 to hold the said tumbler sleeve from' rotation when the base is inserted into the socket. Said socket cup is fixed to the insulating body'28 by means of the bolts 70 which extend through'the flanged end. 71

" of-the cup andmay be provided inside said indicator point 73, and the shell of the socket is provided adjacent thereto with an flanged end with the screw-threaded liruts 72. The lamp or its base is provided with an annular series of numerals 74 with which said indicator point cooperates to guide the person in transposing the tumblers to unlock the device." r

In Figs. 13, lt and 15, I-have shown an arrangement whereby theelements (j the .loc-k carried by the lamp base may be applied to a v standard screw-threaded lamp base.- As shown in said figures the parts of the lock carried by the lamp base are the same as those before described, and like parts bear the same reference numerals. In this construction the extension 42 on which the tumbler sleeve is mounted isformed on a screw-threaded adapter sleeve or shell 7 5 3 that is screw-threaded to the ordinary screw.-

threaded base 76 of the lamp 26. With this arrangement it becomes necessary to provide means to lock the lamp base to theadapter sleeve or shell 75. This may be effected by the spring locking device 77, shown bestin Figs. 14 and 15, which is arranged to lie between the end'of the lamp base and the end wall of the adapter sleeve 75. The said locking ring is fixed to the adapter sleeve in any suitable manner, as by means of hollow lugs or eyelets7 8 formed on the end wall-of the adapter sleeve adapted to extend through openings in the springlock and to be riveted thereon. One end of the split locking ring 77 is turned down wardly .to constitute a biting edge or pro jection which engages theend of the'stand ard base. The said end 80 is so disposed relatively to the directionofrotation of the base, when the latter is turned into the socket, as to ride freely over the end surface of the base; when the lamp isturned into the adapter shell, but bites into the end in the reverse or unscrewing direction.

being turned out of the adapter shell. The biting end 80-of said spring locking device beneath said end so as to pry the biting end from the end face of the base. only be efiected when the lamp is removed from the socket. In this construction an 81 which extends downwardly from the adapter sleeve imposition for said point. to cooperate =with.fiumerals on a shell into yielding center terminal, shown in Fig. 2, and, made as follows: 82 designates ametal sleeve which slidingly engages a central opening in the insulating body 28 and is formed at its outer end with a flange 83 engage the centralterminal 84 ofthe lamp base. v Said sleeve is mounted on the lower end of a metal pin'85 which extends upinsulating body and is fixed thereto'by the at its lower end, the head havin close guiding engagement with the sleeve or electrical contact therewith. The sleei e is normally projected downwardly against the central terminal of the lamp base by meanscf a spring 87 interposed between the upper flanged end of saidsleeve and thelower nut any suitable manner to a conducting wire.

In Figs. 18, 19 and 20 is shown an adapter for adapting my improved lock to a standard socket and a standard lamp base. adapter sleeve 75 of the lamp base is like the sleeve-or shell shown in Fig. 13 and and 15.. The elements of the combination base maybe like that shown in connection thesame reference characters.

which receivesfthe locking devices of the lamp base is formedwith an extension plug into an ordinarytor stan dard socket. These parts are made gs. follows :-'90 designates wall of the base when the lamp is turned .This cansideof the lamp circuit is closed through a.

orterminalSG of the pin 85. The upper or outer end of'the pin may be connected m with Figs. 7, 9 and 13, and like parts bear The socket .Thereby the lamp is securely locked from may be released by'a suitable instrument inserted through an openingBl int-he shell indicator point may be impressedon a lug whichthe adapter is inserted'in a manner numerals 74, i

wardly through an axial opening in said terminals or nuts 86. Said pin is headed he l is shown as locked to the lamp base by the. same locking spring 77 shown in Figs. 14

or permutation lock carried by the lamp.

or adapter -thatis-designed to be screwed an elongated insulating body, such as pol celain, which is partially surrounded by a screw-threaded metal shell 91 that is adapted to engage the screw-threads of a standard socket. Said shell 91 is formed with a cylindric extension 92 adapted to in-' close the parts which constitutethe socket portion of the adapterplug and in which are mounted the locking shoulders for engagement with the tumblers on the lamp base. Contained within said extension of said shell is a metal socket ring 95, corre sponding generally to the socket cup of the other figures, with the exception that its end flange is omitted. The said ring 95 is formed with the. angula'rly spaced, transversely convex lugs-96, 97, corresponding to the lugs 37, 38 of the socket cup 30, to form the locking shoulders with which the tumblers 48 and 50 are engaged. .Said socket ring 95 is confined between an offset or shoulder-'99 at the base of the screw thread of the shell 91 and another shoulder 100 near the outer end ofthe socket portion 92 of the shell. The extreme outer edge of the socket portion of the shell is folded or "spun about an insulating ring 101 which constitutes an insulated connection between said socket portion 92and a socket extension 103 which surrounds or inclosesv the base of the lamp. The in ulating body 90 is confined in the shell 91 etween a shoulder 10 1 at'the base of the'screw thread of the shell 91, and spurs 105'bent inwardly from the inner end of the screw-threaded shell which engage with shoulders on the insulatingbodyat the bottoms of the notches 106. Thesaid screw-threaded shell 91 .is electrically connected to the locking device and constitutes part of one side of the lamp circuit. The other side of the lamp circuit is closed through a central yielding terminal, made like that shown in Fig. 2. Said yielding terminal comprises the metal pin 108 arranged in an axial opening of the insulating body, a' metal sleeve 109 slidable on the head of said pin and adapted toenga e the central terminal 8d of the lamp bade, and a spring 110 which acts, on said sleeve to normally hold it projected and to yieldingly hold it against the central lamp base terminal. The inner end of. said pin 168, or a nut 111 thereon, extends beyond the iiiner end of the insulating body of the adapter plug for engagement with the central terminal of a standard socket.

Means are provided for positively locking the adapter plug described to a standard socketto' prevent said lug. from being removed as lon as the lamp is in place in its socket. T e means herein shown comprises a U-shaped spring 112 arranged transversely. of the axis of the adapter plug in a socket or recess 114 atone side of the m sulating body and inside the screw-threaded shell 91. One end of said Ushaped spring 112 is reduced and curved outwardly to constitute a biting extension 115 which is adapted to extend outwardly through an opening in the screw-threaded shell 91 to engage the screw-threaded sleeve of a stand ard socket. The said curved biting end of the spring is so disposed, with respect to the direction of rotation of the adapter, when the same is being turned into the socket, as to pass freely over the screwthreaded socket sleeve when the adapter is being turned into place; but when the adapter is turned in the other direction to remove the adapter "from the socket, said outwardly curved end 115 bites into the.

screw-threaded socket sleeve and locks the adapter from backward rotation. The said outwardly turned end 115 of the locking spring may be sprung backwardly to per- 7 said locking spring in a manner to springsaid free end of the spring inwardly away from the standard so'cket screw-threaded sleeve. The locking spring 77 and locking spring 112 constitute, therefore, means to prevent detachment of the lamp base from the screw-threaded adapter sleeve or shell 72, and also detachment of the adapter plug ofthe socket from a standard socket.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 18

the adaptersleeve is provided with an indi} cator point 118 which is adapted to coiiperate with a series 119 of numerals on the outer side'of the extension shell'103 of the socket. It will be understood that the combination or permutation lock may be applied to' any form of socket, whether for indoor or outdoor use and with or without a key or other switch for making and breaking the circuit.

It will be further understood that the details of the locking device and the manner of its adaptation to-the socket and lamp base may be varied withinthe spirit and scope of-the invention.

Furthermore a combination lock such as herein shown may be employed to releasably "lock other forms of electrical connections,

such as a switch, havingthe same general arrangement of separable terminals such as isherein shown.

of thecurrent carrying elements of the lamp 1. Anelectric lampprovided with a combination lock embracing tumblers movable in and permanently carried by the lamp base to releasably lock the lamp to a support.

' having a reduced extension and with a tum- 2. An electric lamp and combination lock elements carried permanently thereby for releasably locking the lamp to a support.

' 3. An electric lamp provided with circuit terminals and a combination lock for releasably locking the lamp to a support, the

locking elements constituting, when the lamp is connected in circuit, part of the lamp;

circuit.

4. An electric lamp provided with a base having circuit terminals and acombination lock for locking the lamp to a support, embracing. tumblers on said base adapted to engage a locking projection on the suport.

p 5. An electric lampand its socket and a combination lock embodied in the lam and socket for releasably locking the lamp in its socket. M

6. An electric lamp and its socket and a combination lock therefor comprising locking projections on one of said parts and a rotative tumbler on the other part adapted for releasable locking engagement with said projections. I I i 7. An electric lamp and its socket and a combination-lock therefor made of conducting material to constitute part of the lamp circuit. 7

.8. An electric lamp and its socket, the

socket being provided with a plurality of.

angularly spaced projections, the lamp base extending into the socket, and notched tumblers mounted on the base for engagement with said projections to constitute a combination lock by which to releasably lock the lamp to the socket. l

9. An 1 electric lamp and its socket, the

socket being provided with a plurality of angularly spacedprojections, the lamp base extending into the socket, and notched tumblers mounted on the base for eingagement with said projections to constitute a combination look by which to releasably lock the lamp to the socket, one of said tumblers bein fixed to the lamp base to rotate there wi h and another tumbler being loosely mounted on the base and having means whereby its rotation is controlled by the tumbler fixed to the lamp base.

10. An electric lamp and its socket, the socket being provided with a plurality of angularly spaced projections, the lam base extending into the socket, notched tumblers mountedion the base for engagemeht with said "rojections to constitute a combination lock y which toreleasably lock the lamp to the socket, the said socket and its projections and-theitumbl'ers beingmade of conducting material to constitute part of one side of the lamp circuit, and a centrally arranged terminal. carried by the socket for engagement with the central terminal of the lamp. Y Y

11-. An electric lamp provided with a base sleeve and the-reduced extension of the base to constitute part o-f a combination-lock to releasably lock the lamp to a support.

"member and a member adapted to enter the socket, said members having circuit closing terminals adapted for. contact to close a circuit and to be separated to open the oilcuit, of a combination lock embracing releasable locking elements embodied as permanent parts of said members, one of which elements is movably carried by one of said members, for releasably locking said members together.

- 13. The combination with a fixed socket memberand a member adapted toenter the socket,-said members having circuit closing terminals adapted for contact to closea ir-.

of a combination lock embracing rotative tumbler elements and projections for releasably locking said parts together.

14;. The combination with a fixed. socket member and a member adapted to enter the socket and to rotate tl1erein,- said members having circuit closing terminals adapted for contact to close a circuit-and to be separated 12. The combination with a fixed socket cuit and to be separated to open the circuit;

to open the circuit, the socket member being providedwith locking projections, of tumblers concentrically mounted on themtative member adapted for locking engagement with the socket prdjections.

' 15. The combination with a fixed socket member andamember adapted to enter the socket member and to (rotate therein, said members having circuit closing terminals adapted for contact to close-a circuit and to be separated to open the circuit, the socket member being provided with locking projections, of tumblers concentrically mounted on the rotative member adapted for locking engagement withthe socket projections, said socket projections and tumblers being made. of conducting material to constitute the terminals of one side of the circuit, and a centrally arranged contact in the socket adapted to engage a centralcontaot on the rotative member to constitute the terminalsofthe other sideifof-th circuit.

16. An electric lamp provided with a base, "a screw lihreadedadapter sleeve fitted to the base and provided with means for locking it to 'the base and a combination lock for locking said sleeve to a support.

17. An electric lamp provided with a screw-threaded base, a screw-threaded adapter sleeve on the base and tumblers car- 10 screw threaded base,

said part when the base is turned in a direction-to screw it into said sleeve, and a combination lock forlocking said sleeve to a socket. I

19. An electric lamp provided with a screw-threaded base, a screw-threaded adapter sleeve fitted to the base, a locking spring fixed within said sleeve and pro- 'v'ided at its end with a locking spur or pro- .jection adapted to engage and bite into the base when-the base is turned in a direction to screw it out of the sleeve and thereby prevent the normal withdrawal of the base from the sleeve, means whereby saidspur may be released from its base, and a combination lock for locking the adapter sleeve to a socket.

20. The combination with an adapter embracing .an adapter plug havinga screw- 7 'threaded sleeve for engagement with a Copies of this patent may be obtained'for standard screw-threaded socket and having means for locking it to the socket, said adapter being provided with a socket and a lamp base adapted to enter thelatter socket, of a combination lock embracing locking elements permanently carried by the base and socket for locking the lamp base in said latter socket. 1

21. The combination with an adapter embracing an adapter plug having a screwthrea'ded. sleeve for engagement with a standard screw-threaded socket and having means for locking it to the socket, said adapter being provided with a-. socket and a lamp base adapted to enter the latter socket,

of a cdmb'ination lock for locking the lamp baseinsaid latter socket, the locking means for the adapter plug being inaccessible when "the lamp base is locked in the adapter socket, and means whereby the locking means may be released to permit the adapter plug to be removed from the standard socket five cents each, by addressing the com Washington, D. G."

' when the lamp base-is removed from the adapter socket.

22. The combination with an adapter comprising an insulating body, a metal screw-threaded ring fitted thereover, and a locking device seated in said body and (ex-- tending through the sleeve for engagement socket to lock the adapter plug in said socket, said sleeve being provided with an extension to form a socket, of a combination lock to lock alamp base in said socket, there being an opening in the plug accessible from the open side of the socket, when the lamp base is removed, through which an implelocking device.

bracing an adapter plug having a screwthreaded sleeve adapted for engagement with a standard screw-threaded socket and having means for looking it to the socket, said adapter being provided with a socket, a

and having means for locking it thereon, of a combination lock for locking the lampbase adapter sleeve in the adapter socket..

24. An electric lamp and its socket, the" socket comprising a metal 'ring which is sheared or punched inwardly to form on the inner side of the ring a plurality of angularly spaced locking projections and tumblers mounted on the lamp base for engagement with said locking projections.

25. The combination witha metal ring which is sheared or punched inwardly to form on the inner sideof the ring'a pluralblers on said member for engagement said lockin projections.

' 26. An e cctric fixture socket and a plug surrounded by the socket when the parts are interlocked.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afiix my presence of two witnesses, July A. D. 1910.

*' Witnesses:

' W. L. HALL,

WILLIAM Gonnnmzonm,

with the screw-threaded sleeve ofa standard ment may be inserted to release-the plug 23. The combination with an adapter em screw-threaded lamp base,- and a screwthreaded adapter sleeve fitted onthe base ity of angularly spaced sets of locking pro- 1 Jections, of a member adapted to enter said socket to rotate therein and notched tum-- with adapted to enter the same, combined with a combination lock comprising cooperating tumblers and projections mounteds on said socket and plug and contained within and signature in the this; 16th day. of

,GUSTAF I. 'siL'BERT.

s sl oner of Patents}? I; 

